Antonio Freeman

The Big 33 Scholarship Foundation Inc. has announced that Poly graduate and former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman will be the honorary chairman of the 56th Big 33 Football Classic in June. Freeman played for Maryland in the 1990 Big 33 game. In 1995, Freeman was drafted in the third round by the Packers. In Super Bowl XXXL, he had three receptions for 105 yards to help the Packers beat the New England Patriots. During his NFL career with the Packers and Philadelphia Eagles, he amassed over 7,000 receiving yards, caught over 400 passes and scored more than 60 touchdowns.

NFL Socci named Patriots play-by-play announcer Bob Socci , who has called radio play-by-play for Navy for the past 16 years, has been named radio play-by-play announcer for the New England Patriots on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Socci, who replaces Gil Santos , will join color commentator Scott Zolak (Maryland) in the booth. Santos retired after the 2012 season after 36 seasons of calling Patriots games. Socci, 45, of Milton, Mass., is the lead announcer for CBS Sports Network's coverage of Patriot League college basketball and calls games for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. Varsity Gaels' Williams to play for U.S. All-Stars in Capital Classic Mount St. Joseph senior guard Kameron Williams will be one of 10 players on the U.S. All-Stars basketball team at Sunday's 40th annual Capital Classic in Virginia.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Life keeps lobbing these tantalizing opportunities at Antonio Freeman. Like a good receiver, he hasn't dropped one yet.Take his rookie season in 1995 with the Green Bay Packers. When the team needed a kick returner, the wide receiver from Virginia Tech filled the bill with a bang.Freeman averaged better than 23 yards per kick return, almost 8 yards on punts, and when the playoffs arrived, he scored on a 76-yard punt return to help eliminate the Atlanta Falcons.A year later, he was in the starting lineup at split end. Then he was out, with a fractured left forearm.

The Big 33 Scholarship Foundation Inc. has announced that Poly graduate and former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman will be the honorary chairman of the 56th Big 33 Football Classic in June. Freeman played for Maryland in the 1990 Big 33 game. In 1995, Freeman was drafted in the third round by the Packers. In Super Bowl XXXL, he had three receptions for 105 yards to help the Packers beat the New England Patriots. During his NFL career with the Packers and Philadelphia Eagles, he amassed over 7,000 receiving yards, caught over 400 passes and scored more than 60 touchdowns.

The number 0 Missed extra points by Bucs' Martin Gramatica before yesterday. The quote "I felt like a little kid who ran away and has come home." Antonio Freeman, Packers receiver, on his return to Lambeau Field

After his memorable play on the biggest stage in American sports, Antonio Freeman was asked what he would do next.Go home to Baltimore, he said.Yesterday, Freeman, the Green Bay Packers receiver whose 81-yard touchdown reception was the longest play from scrimmage in Super Bowl history, enjoyed a hero's welcome in his hometown.Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke arranged a tribute at City Hall and declared it "Antonio Freeman Day."Cheerleaders from Poly, where Freeman's football jersey is retired, chanted, "Yeah, Buttons!"

For what it's worth, the Maryland House of Delegates is strongly convinced that the Green Bay Packers will win the Super Bowl.With an extremely light agenda early in the 90-day legislative session, House Speaker Casper R. Taylor Jr. yesterday instructed the House clerks to call the roll on the game's outcome.Before the vote was taken, there was even some lobbying. One Baltimore County delegate rose to remind his colleagues that the New England Patriots feature running back David Meggett, a former Towson State University standout.

SAN DIEGO -- The Denver Broncos are limited in the way they can attack Green Bay's passing game because cornerbacks Ray Crockett and Darrien Gordon don't match up well with Green Bay receivers Antonio Freeman and Robert Brooks.It may be the greatest mismatch in Super Bowl XXXII.Crockett can't turn and cover deep routes and Gordon lacks ball awareness skills that make him vulnerable to play-action fakes.So expect the Broncos to play a lot of zone and rotate the safeties to the outside so they won't give up big plays.

BaseballMajor League Baseball: Arizona Diamondbacks won coin toss and will make second and third selections in expansion draft Tuesday. Tampa Bay Devil Rays will get first and fourth choices. Arizona will have all odd-numbered picks rest of draft.BasketballMagic: Promoted Stephen Giles to scouting coordinator.Nets: Placed G Lucious Harris (broken bone in his right hand) on injured list. Activated F Jack Haley from injured list.WNBA: Signed F Cindy Brown.CollegeBig South: Named UMBC junior outside hitter Lisa Cline volleyball Player of the Year, UMBC's Megan McNamara to first team and teammate Lanne Baker to second team.

Antonio Freeman didn't remember whether his team won or lost the Big 33 Football Classic game the summer after his senior year at Poly in 1990. He has more important memories of the Maryland-Pennsylvania high school football all-star game. "I had never been away from home for a week's time, slept in somebody else's bed. The whole experience helped me prepare for college. I had a great host family. I'm still in touch with the host family," said Freeman, who went on to play in two Super Bowls with the NFL's Green Bay Packers, winning one. "And it was just one of those things that made you realize you were one of the elite in the whole state, and you were surrounded by other guys who have the same goals that you have, to play college football and to get an education, and it was a great fraternity to be a part of. " Freeman, whose team lost the game, gathered with fellow Big 33 veterans Reggie White and Keith Kormanik, as well as coaching veterans Roger Wrenn and Bill McGregor, at St. Paul's School on Thursday to talk about how happy they are to see Maryland and Pennsylvania renew their Big 33 rivalry after 21 years.

Organizers of the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame are looking for ways to rejuvenate a proud institution that has been around since 1956. They're hoping this helps: one of the Hall's most star-studded classes will be inducted at an upcoming ceremony Nov. 10 at Michael's 8th Avenue in Glen Burnie. This year's inductees include former NBA All-Star Sam Cassell (Dunbar High, Florida State), former NFL punter Sean Landetta (Loch Raven, Towson University), PGA golfer Fred Funk (University of Maryland)

As the NFL prepares to enter its annual slumber until training camps open in a few weeks, the Ravens figure to be one of the teams that draw few headlines. Ravens officials have contacted the agents for all seven of their draft choices but likely will sign most of the picks the week before training camp opens July 29, as has been the pattern in previous years. Team officials also said the roster is virtually intact and that they do not anticipate adding any of the bigger-name free agents still left on the market, a list that includes linebacker Jason Gildon, running back Antowain Smith, offensive lineman Marcus Spears and receiver Antonio Freeman (Poly)

What's left for the Ravens after losing out on Terrell Owens isn't pretty. A second-option receiver on a mediocre team might well be the most attractive choice available. Dez White, who started 11 games for the 7-9 Chicago Bears last year but played a supporting role to Marty Booker, is the biggest name receiver left on the free-agent market. He's the player at whom the Ravens will likely take the longest look. White's agent, Ben Dogra, said he has not heard from the Ravens, who are in no hurry to fill the void Owens' loss creates.

The number 0 Missed extra points by Bucs' Martin Gramatica before yesterday. The quote "I felt like a little kid who ran away and has come home." Antonio Freeman, Packers receiver, on his return to Lambeau Field

The New England Patriots crawled out of a 1-3 hole last season to win their first NFL championship. Coach Bill Belichick doesn't want to have to take that uphill route again, so he greeted players at training camp with T-shirts and a theme. On the back of the T-shirts was a bull's-eye with the logos of the Patriots' first four opponents in the center. The theme, Targeting September, was also written on the back. What Belichick was saying is that the Patriots can't afford another 1-3 start - or the 0-4 they experienced in 2000 - if they expect to defend their Super Bowl title.

Moves Baseball MLB: Orioles 1B Jeff Conine voted AL Player of the Week and Cubs P Matt Clement voted NL Player of the Week. BLUE JAYS: Fired manager Buck Martinez and 1B coach Garth Iorg. Named 3B coach Carlos Tosca interim manager, bullpen catcher John Gibbons 1B coach and Brian Butterfield 3B coach. BREWERS: Activated OF Matt Stairs from 15-day DL and designated IF Luis Lopez for assignment. DIAMONDBACKS: Announced they have extended their player development contract with Single-A South Bend for two years through the 2004 season.

What's left for the Ravens after losing out on Terrell Owens isn't pretty. A second-option receiver on a mediocre team might well be the most attractive choice available. Dez White, who started 11 games for the 7-9 Chicago Bears last year but played a supporting role to Marty Booker, is the biggest name receiver left on the free-agent market. He's the player at whom the Ravens will likely take the longest look. White's agent, Ben Dogra, said he has not heard from the Ravens, who are in no hurry to fill the void Owens' loss creates.

Moves Baseball MLB: Orioles 1B Jeff Conine voted AL Player of the Week and Cubs P Matt Clement voted NL Player of the Week. BLUE JAYS: Fired manager Buck Martinez and 1B coach Garth Iorg. Named 3B coach Carlos Tosca interim manager, bullpen catcher John Gibbons 1B coach and Brian Butterfield 3B coach. BREWERS: Activated OF Matt Stairs from 15-day DL and designated IF Luis Lopez for assignment. DIAMONDBACKS: Announced they have extended their player development contract with Single-A South Bend for two years through the 2004 season.

Less than two months before training camps open, the NFL's revolving personnel door will spit out another class of free agents in the coming days. This one promises to be even more tepid than the moderate March market. As many as four wide receivers of distinction - all age 30 or older - and a handful of aging defensive linemen are expected to become available when teams make one more round of cuts for salary cap relief. Ten years after free agency began, the annual June 1 cuts no longer hold intrigue.